Opera Fun - The Magic Flute

12/28/10

We are now in full swing of rehearsals for the Opera Theatre of Westion 2011 production of Mozart's The Magic Flute. Today was the first day of full cast rehearsals, and honestly, to hear these incredible singers with such glorious music, I felt like a kid in a candy store.

After being battered by the Nor'easter snow storm two nights ago, bringing 16" of snow to the region, we started rehearsing in the downstairs of a nearby church for the week. All of us just sitting on chairs facing Musical Director Angela Gooch, the Head of Vocal Studies at Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Boston, MA, as we sang through the opera from the beginning. What a treat!

I've worked with a lot of really good singers in my career, and to sit amongst a roomful of such talent was a very heady experience. And to be a part of the Select Chorus for this production is a delight. My work with my vocal coaches, especially this past year, have brought me to the point where I can be a part of this, and to be able to make a contribution here is an honor. And this is only the beginning of this new journey for me.

I will add some photos in as I can, and post more along the way. Stay tuned...

From Folk Music to Opera

Music For Mankind® founder Kelly Moore, having successfully created his new concert series, Give My Regards To Broadway, has accepted a role in the Opera Theatre of Weston's January 2011 production of Mozart's The Magic Flute.

 Kelly will sing in the Select Chorus and also perform as a Temple "Slave".

Opera Theatre of Weston Co-Producer Lise Messier said about him, "A multi-talented performer, Kelly brings enormous enthusiasm, solid vocal skills, sensitive and honest interpretations, and a big heart to a wide-ranging repertoire. He is a gifted entertainer. His background in theater, dance, and singing are a perfect fit for this production."

"Having grown up in theatre, this is my first performance in opera," said Kelly, "and I'm very excited to be in this one. Mozart's music is so beautiful that it brings tears to your eyes. To start at this level is, for me, an incredible experience."

"And," he added, "working with the OTW producers, directors and everyone involved is great. I'm really enjoying this and looking forward to the performances."

Performances will be as follows:

On Saturday January 8, starting at 3:00 PM, the performance will be held at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland.

On Saturday January 15, a 3:00 performance will be held at the Weston Playhouse, in Weston, Vermont, and then again on Sunday January 16, with the performance starting at 2:00 PM.

There will also be performances for local schools.

Tickets can be purchased at:

Paramount Theatre
Box Office 802.775.0903
http://www.paramountlive.org/

Opera Theatre of Weston
Box Office 802.824.3821
Email: otw@sover.net
http://www.operatheatreofweston.org/

For more information about Opera Theatre of Weston please visit our friends at www.operatheatreofweston.org

Give My Regards Concerts Huge Success!

Music For Mankind® - Give My Regards To Broadway Concerts A Huge Success

Starting at the end of July, with Rutland pianist Paul Opel, I've been performing the "Give My Regards To Broadway" concerts all over Vermont, in New Hampshire, Massachussets and upper New York State to incrediby touching enthusiasm.

Starting the new series in retirement homes, sharing songs that I grew up with in musical theatre as a teenager, with octogenarians and up who were introduced to these same songs in their adulthood, the bond created singing together is powerful and emotional. You can hear a sample of the concert here.

I'd like to share a couple of personal stories here. Several times, after the concert I've been approached by a concert-goer in tears who has held my hand, thanked me profusely, and told me, "You have no idea the memories you have brought back."

And another, clearly in her mid to late eighties, who told me, "You made me feel young again. Thank you!".

Already this concert series is doing much more than I anticipated. It's so sweet when the audience is singing along on songs that mean so much to them, and to me, as well. And at the end, when we sing "Edelweiss" together, and everyone joins in, even those who hadn't sung previously, and those who smile who hadn't smiled the entire concert, I feel such a gratitude to be able to bring this experience to them and to share it with them.

When I sing "Try To Remember", and in the third verse I get to the line of "Deep in December it's nice to remember the fire of September that made us mellow", sometimes I get choked up myself thinking about what this means to them, and what it means to me now, and what it will mean to me when I'm their age, and I'm touched and honored that what I can do is able to do this much for them.

To perform these concerts, to touch people's hearts, and to be able to contribute to organizations like the UN World Food Program and Feeding America, and help those who struggle every day just to survive, is a double dose of humility for me. I'm very thankful that I've been given this gift of music. It does things in my heart that I can never express, but just to let it out. I go around thinking, "If only people could feel what I'm feeling!", and possibly they are.

I've been showing my documentary, "Nicaragua - On The Ground", as well, and oftentimes am asked, "How can I help?".

We're continuing to book the "Give My Regards To Broadway" concerts, and expanding our reach into tour bus groups, resorts, corporate conventions and other events. Perhaps you have or know a group who would enjoy this music. Please let me know. That's how you can help. You can email me at kelly@musicformankind.net or call me at 802-362-3806.

Thank you so much for your support and enthusiasm.

Kelly

Links:
Nicaragua - On The Ground
Give My Regards To Broadway

Give My Regards - Audio Now Available

Music For Mankind® - Give My Regards To Broadway

As you know, Music For Mankind® founder Kelly Moore has added a second show to the Music For Mankind® series. Give My Regards To Broadway is a concert of well-known Broadway and variety songs.

Recently Kelly went into the studio to record some of the songs from the show. And now you can listen to a sample here.

 

Included in this concert are show-stoppers "Somewhere" from West Side Story, "Younger Than Springtime" from South Pacific, "On The Street Where You Live", from My Fair Lady, "Try To Remember" from the longest-running musical off-Broadway, The Fantasticks, "Come To Me, Bend To Me" from Brigadoon, and of course "Give My Regards To Broadway" from the ever popular George M. And no show is complete without the favorite sing-a-long "Edelweiss" from The Sound of Music.

Mr. Moore performs Give My Regards To Broadway with an accomplished pianist. The concert running time varies with the needs of the venue, and can fit any format.


Listen to a sample

Give My Regards To Broadway

Music For Mankind®

Give My Regards To Broadway

 

Music For Mankind® founder Kelly Moore has added a second show to the Music For Mankind® series. Give My Regards To Broadway is a concert of well-known Broadway tunes and variety songs.

Included in this concert are show-stoppers "Somewhere" from West Side Story, "Younger Than Springtime" from South Pacific, "On The Street Where You Live", from My Fair Lady, "Try To Remember" from the longest-running musical off-Broadway, The Fantasticks, "Come To Me, Bend To Me" from Brigadoon, and of course "Give My Regards To Broadway" from the ever popular George M. And no show is complete without the favorite sing-a-long "Edelweiss" from The Sound of Music.


Mr. Moore performs Give My Regards To Broadway with an accomplished pianist. The concert running time varies with the needs of the venue, and can fit any format.
 
Audio samples of this show will be available shortly, but audio and video samples of the original Music For Mankind® series are available here by clicking on either Audio or Video under the Multimedia tab.


Music For Mankind® is a benefit concert series, proceeds of which are contributed to the United Nations World Food Program, Feeding America, and other local and national charity organizations for humanitarian relief. See the information video.
 

• Overall goal, while providing entertainment, is to create awareness of, and funds for a global issue that can be resolved.
• Kelly's latest CD, "Silently Hoping" climbed to #37 on World Music radio airplay charts in the US, and aired on radio stations in ten countries.
• Solo, trio and full ensemble concert formats are available for booking.
• View the "Silently Hoping" music video, seen thousands of times on YouTube and many other Internet websites.
• Friends of the World Food Program recognized Kelly Moore’s efforts by giving him the title of Community Delegate of the Friends of the World Food Program.
• View the trailer of "Nicaragua - On The Ground", the video of the UN World Food Program's efforts in Nicaragua, produced by Kelly Moore featured in the Friends of the World Food Program's September newsletter, "Food For Thought".

See Kelly Moore's Press Kit page here.
Learn about Kelly Moore's Film Presentations here.
Learn about Kelly's Speaking Engagements here.

For more information call 802-362-3806 or email info@musicformankind.net

Riders For The Hungry

Ride For The Hungry™ A Good Start



Founder Kelly Moore and friends raise money with their motorcycles.



On Sunday, July 11, starting in Bennington, Vermont and riding to Manchester then West Dover, Vermont, Music For Mankind® founder Kelly Moore was joined by Alex de Samsanow and Allison Thorner to raise funds for the United Nations World Food Program and Feeding America.


"It was my first-ever effort at organizing a motorcycle rally," Kelly stated afterwards. " And, while we originally had a couple dozen riders planning to join us, the three of us are the original Music For Mankind® - Ride For The Hungry™ riders. I'm very proud of this effort, and definately plan to do more."

The weather was ideal for the ride. Alex and Kelly started at Ronnie's Cycle in Bennington, riding up Route 7, then over to Route 7A and up to Manchester. Allison joined our intrepid crew there, and the three rode over Route 30, then up and over beautiful Route 100 to West Dover, stopping at the Matterhorn Inn for Polish lunch, cooked and served by the owners Joe and Wanda Kruszewski. A dip in the pool, and the warm sun felt great!


"We raised some money for those much less fortunate than us, and we had a great time, " Kelly said. "Clearly more can be done to make these rides more successful. But this was a really good start. I'm never discouraged when people join together to help in whatever little way we can. Every little bit makes a difference in the lives of those who struggle every day just to survive. I've been there and seen it. I'll never forget it, and I simply won't stop trying to help."


While performing concerts and doing his lecture series showing his documentary "Nicaragua - On The Ground" that he produced last year about his trip as US Delegate for the Friends of the World Food Program to Nicaragua in 2008, Kelly already has two other rides in the planning stages.

"We have opportunities to keep growing in so many areas and in so many ways," he said of his efforts. " The rides are a new part of this, and with everything else, new ideas keep popping up. I'm planning some announcements about these very soon. So keep an eye on the newsletters, the website and the blog. We're just getting started!"

 

And my sincere thanks to all who help to support our efforts.

2010 Relay For Life

85 Riders Raise Money For Cancer Society

I recently became a member of the Bennington International Motorcycle Club, and so joined 84 other riders on over 60 motorcycles on Saturday June 26 for a 140 mile ride through southern Vermont to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. This was an incredible and touching event.

Starting at 10:00 in the morning, we rode Rte. 9 to Dover, VT, then Rte. 100 up through Jamaica, South Londonderry, and Londonderry to Weston, where we had a great lunch provided by the Vermont Country Store (thanks!). After lunch we continued on Rte. 100 to Rte. 155 to East Wallingford, then 6 miles of wonderful twisties on Rte. 140 (freshly resurfaced) over to Wallingford, and down Rte. 7 in the rain to Manchester. A short break, then back on to Rte. 7A, again in the rain, down to Bennington. A brief stop to pay our respects to a former member who had passed away, from cancer, then on to Mount Anthony Union High School track, where an all-day event awaited us.

When it was our turn, we were introduced on the PA system, and amid cheers, many heartfelt thanks and the music of Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild", we made our way around the track to the main stage area, where Ride Coordinator, Terry Stacy presented a check to the American Cancer Society for over $1,400!

People had been walking laps all day and into the night, to help raise money for this cause, and all around the track were "luminaries", little white bags with a candle in them, to honor those in treatment, those who had recovered, and those who had passed away. Several organizations had tents in the field area and around the track, and as we continued our way around the track, the cheers and thanks only become louder, more fervent, and more touching.

This is an experience I will not ever forget. For me, to understand that what we had done together brought this kind of response, reminded me of my own efforts to help feed the hungry poor. To feel so humbled by other's desparate needs, and their intensely sincere thanks for our efforts touches my heart in a way mere words can probably not ever adequately express.

My sincere thanks to all at the Bennington International Motorcycle Club for your warm welcome and your efforts to help those less fortunate. And my sincere thanks, to the American Cancer Society and all the volunteers at the event for your efforts and your kindness

Guest Post by Senator George McGovern

Music For Mankind® contributes to the United Nations World Food Program School Feeding Program, which was started by Senator George McGovern. I have had the pleasure of meeting him twice while in Washington.

Recently the Friends of the World Food Program posted the following from him on their blog, and have been kind enough to allow me to share his posting with you here on my blog.

A Humbling Experience in One of Africa's Largest Slums

By Senator George McGovern

Originally posted on Friends of the World Food Program Blog Thursday May 13, 2010

Hunger is something I have fought tirelessly by encouraging a global commitment to school meals and nutrition. I am currently on a 10-day visit to Kenya and Uganda to see United Nations World Food Program (WFP) projects serving the same cause. This visit comes 50 years after President John F. Kennedy appointed me the first director of the U.S. Food for Peace Program.

On Tuesday, I visited the Nairobi slum of Kibera—the largest slum in East and Central Africa—with more than 1 million people. Life is hard and most residents struggle daily to put a meal on the table. Many of the children in Kibera are orphans, having lost their parents to HIV/AIDS.


I want to share with you a touching experience when I met Lilian Adhiambo, a 22-year-old woman who is HIV positive and lives in Kibera. Lilian, through her HIV-infected child, receives WFP food assistance through a program feeding children who are HIV positive and their families.


With Lilian and her child, I saw the important role that nutrition plays in the management of the disease. Lilian said that with the WFP food, she and her child, together with the rest of the family, are able to lead a normal life and that she can even engage in small income-generating activities which, however, don’t always do very well because of the high levels of poverty in the slums.

Amid the squalor of Kibera, Lilian’s house, though mud walled and with a dirt floor, was sparkling clean and her sparse furniture was neatly arranged in her small room. The resilience I saw in her humbled me.


I danced with a 10-year-old lady from Stara Rescue Centre, and listened to poetry and songs from children in the centre, which is both a school and haven for destitute and orphaned children.

The poems and songs were about the nutritious lunch they receive daily in school because of WFP and how it helps them concentrate in class and encourages them to stay in school. At that moment, I was proud of the fact that in 2001, together with my colleague Senator Robert Dole, we pushed for the McGovern-Dole program which supports WFP’s school meals in Kenya.

I firmly believe that school meals are the most important form of assistance that the United States can give in Kenya and other parts of the world. This is because school meals provide both a safety net for hungry children and an incentive to keep them in school so they can learn for a better future.

###

For more information about Music For Mankind® please visit http://www.musicformankind.net/

Music For Mankind® - Ride For The Hungry™

Music For Mankind founder, Kelly Moore is starting the first of several fundraising motorcycle rallies.

Proceeds to be contributed to the United Nations World Food Program and Feeding America.

July 11, 2010


Registration 9:00 - 10:00 AM at Ronnie's Cycle, Rte. 9, Bennington, VT
Depart 10:30 AM
1st stop in Manchester, VT 11:00 AM (call 802-362-3806 for location)
Anyone who wishes to start the ride here is welcome.
Leave Manchester at 11:30 AM
Lunch at Matterhorn Inn, Rte. 100, Dover, VT
Return after lunch to Ronnie's Cycle
Riders traveling from out of state are welcome to stay at the Matterhorn Inn. Discount prices offered for rally participants. Call 802-464-4676
Click here for the printable poster.
Please email kelly@musicformankind.net if you plan to attend so we can have a count for lunch.
For more information about Music For Mankind® please visit http://www.musicformankind.net/

Music For Mankind, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity non profit organization. All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent the law allows.

Friends of the World Food Program Blog

Margot Hoerrner, Vice President, Outreach of the Friends of the World Food Program, posted the following blog on their weblog:

Wednesday, April 07, 2010


Music for Mankind

Musician Kelly Moore has been an avid supporter of Friends of the World Food Program and an advocate for the world’s hungry poor for several years. In March 2010, Kelly and his band performed in Vermont, and made the concert available via webcast for supporters across the country. Friends of WFP served as one the beneficiaries of the concert. The following are excerpts from an interview I had with Kelly Moore, about his work and commitment to ending global hunger. Read on…

Margot Hoerrner (Vice President of Outreach and Education, Friends of WFP): How did you first hear about the United Nations World Food Program (WFP)?

Kelly Moore: I have been an active supporter of Prem Rawat and his foundation for years, which works to promote peace and support humanitarian causes around the world. In about 2005, there was an article in the Prem Rawat Foundation newsletter, discussing the work of the World Food Program and the issue of global hunger. The Prem Rawat Foundation had supported WFP in their disaster relief efforts with the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and has continued to provide assistance to WFP’s ongoing hunger relief efforts.

MH: What was it about that article, or the issue of global hunger, that made you want to get involved?

KM: 2005 was an important year for me. I had a number of things going on in my life both personally and professionally as a musician which prompted me to start thinking more about impact.


I had been playing both as a solo musician and with a band, performing at venues all over New England, and had started selecting additional venues such as prisons, hospitals, and schools… it was with these audiences that I started to see how grateful people were to have live music come to them.

This made me start thinking about how I could leverage my music to create change around the issues I care about, and have a bigger impact. I decided to start Music for Mankind - a series of benefit concerts through which a portion of the proceeds are contributed to the Friends of the World Food Program and other national, regional, and local charities to support hunger and poverty alleviation strategies.

MH: Tell me about your concert which took place in March in Vermont.




KM: We hadn’t had a local concert in awhile, so we arranged to have an intimate performance at Al Ducci’s - a gourmet food venue in Manchester, Vermont – with simultaneous live webcast, so our fans around the country could join us as well. We decided to use the concert as a fundraising event for both Friends of the World Food Program, and the Manchester Community Food Cupboard, which is a local hunger alleviation organization.

Al Ducci’s donated the space, and the Greater Manchester Arts Council supported the event – and it was a full house! We played for about an hour, and throughout the performance, I spoke about my travels to visit WFP programs on the ground in Nicaragua and Peru. So many people came up to me afterward, expressing thanks for raising awareness about the issue of global hunger, and told me that, through my words and the images that I shared, they felt that they had traveled to the field with me.

At the end of the day, we raised some funds and some awareness, and made a difference in people’s lives.

MH: How would you describe your music?


KM: (laughs) How would I describe my music… Well, it’s acoustic, folk, pop, rock and Celtic all rolled into one. My band – Emerald Dreams – has two vocalists, a violin, flute and piccolo, double bass and guitar.


MH: With all of the issues out there that you could support, why did you choose to support global hunger alleviation?


KM: The bottom line is that people have to eat. Without food, you don’t have life. You don’t have dignity or prosperity. Without food you’re unable to experience peace in the world, or with yourself. If we’re able to first address hunger, so many other challenges will be resolved as well.


---


Margot Hoerrner
Vice President of Outreach and Education
Friends of the World Food Program

Concert A Success!

Held in Al Ducci's Café, a small, yet very café-ish place with tables covered with red and white checked tablecloths (classic!), we performed to a full house of enthusiastic supporters of both the Manchester Community Food Cupboard and Music For Mankind®. What a treat!

And now the webcast is available online for viewing, and donating! It's an online benefit concert! So sit back with a glass of Italian wine, some spagetti and meatballs...you get the picture...and enjoy. And please remember, every contribution, no matter how small, makes a huge difference to those struggling every day to survive. With all we have here it can be difficult to keep that in focus.

Thank you so much to all for your continuted enthusiasm and support!

Kelly

View the webcast

Last Reminder: Webcast Benefit Concert

I met these two adorable children in Nicaragua. They look to be about 1 and 3 years old. They are 2 and 4 years old. This is due to severe and chronic malnutrition. That look you see goes right through you. We called it the 100 mile stare. I think these two are really, really hungry. It's heart-breaking. An image I will never forget, and one I remember often when sitting down to a meal.

The webcast concert we are performing is to help children and others who just need a hand up. The concert will be available starting this Saturday March 20 at http://www.musicformankind.net/ on the Webcast page. You can find it in the pulldown menu from the Multimedia tab. Donations given online will go to help  the incredible efforts of the UN World Food Program, Feeding America, and The Prem Rawat Foundation.

If any of you are having a group viewing, please let me know by emailing me at kelly@musicformankind.net . I'd like to personally and publicly thank you for your support.

Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and support. It means so much in this effort to help.
Kelly

Webcast Benefit Concert

We're just about a week away from the webcast concert. I'm really excited to start using technology this way. Online donations go to UN World Food Program's School Feeding Program and other humanitarian orgs. Check it out at http://www.musicformankind.net/ on the new Webcast page under the Multimedia tab.

Thanks. See you there!
Kelly

Save The Date for the Webcast Concert!

Please join us in helping those who struggle every day to survive!

I'll be performing a benefit concert, sort of a double header. The donations at the concert will go to the Manchester Community Food Cupboard. Online donations will go to the UN World Food Program's School Feeding Program, Feeding America (the national foodbank, formerly Second Harvest), and The Prem Rawat Foundation.

The webcast will be available Saturday March 20, 2010 at 6:30 PM. The concert will be performed in Manchester, VT. Hillary Smith and Anne D'Olivo,the vocalists from my ensembl Emerald Dreams will be performing with me. They are delightful singers and I really enjoy performing with them.

This is the first time we've done something like this, and I'm very excited and hopeful for a great outcome. We really need you to be a part of this, and to donate.

I've been in the field, and I've experienced it first-hand. Both the need and the hope. If my little efforts can help bring more people together as a community to help our global community, then we've succeeded. So please join us, enjoy the concert, and together let's make a difference.

Thanks!
Kelly Moore

Live Webcast Concert

I am pleased to announce my first concert webcast! This event will take place on Saturday March 20, 2010 at 6:30 PM at www.musicformankind.net. From the Media tab, go to the Webcast page.

Contributions for the event will be donated as follows:
On-line contributions:
The UN World Food Program School Feeding Program
Feeding America (national food bank, formerly Second Harvest)
The Prem Rawat Foundation

Contributions given at the live concert:
The Manchester Community Food Cupboard

Please join the fun, and also help those who struggle every day simply to survive.

Thank you.
Kelly Moore
Music For Mankind, Inc.

We Can Help

Dear Supporters of Music for Mankind,

Clearly the attention of the world is now focused on the tragic events unfolding in Haiti, as is ours. In spite of this, we humbly ask that if you have not yet voted in the Berkshire Bank Foundation Giveaway, please do so before the deadline of January 31, 2010. No donation is required, only a simple vote. Music For Mankind, Inc. could receive a $5,000 grant which will dramatically help us in our efforts to continue helping others.

Vote here

You will need our address which is P.O. Box 608, Manchester Center, VT 05255

Music for Mankind will be able to contribute a significant portion of this grant to the crisis in Haiti. We are also at an important time in our growth where we will be able to move forward to help even more with other fund raising projects if we receive this grant. Please help us continue our vision with your vote. And please encourage others you know to vote for us, as well. US residents only, 18 years or older, may vote.

Thank you.

Kelly Moore
President/CEO
Music For Mankind, Inc.

Berkshire Bank Foundation Giveaway

Want a simple and easy way to help Music for Mankind win a $5,000 grant? Please read more and pass along to anyone you think may be interested. Thank you for your attention and thank you, in advance, for your very important vote.

The Berkshire Bank Foundation (read bio below) will award four $5,000.00 grants to non-profit organizations based ONLY in the following regions:

*Berkshire County, MA
*Pioneer Valley, MA
*Eastern NY
*Southern VT

Music for Mankind is based in the region of Southern Vermont, therefore eligible.

The grants will be awarded based on the highest number of votes received between now and January 31, 2010, so please vote soon!

To participate, you must be a lawful permanent resident of the United States, 18 years of age or older. One vote per person.

To register and vote: Click here and follow the instructions. You will need MFM’s address, which is PO Box 608, Manchester Center, VT 05255.

Click here to vote

Berkshire Bank has long been a leader in philanthropy and community involvement. It demonstrates its commitment to the communities it does business in through its charitable contributions, volunteerism and civic leadership. The Berkshire Bank Foundation has awarded more than $13 million in donations to non-profit organizations since its inception.

Music for Mankind, Inc. (www.musicformankind.net) contributes proceeds from its benefit concert series, Music For Mankind®, to such entities as the UN World Food Program, The Prem Rawat Foundation, Feeding America, local food banks and more, and is focused on the important issue of chronic hunger worldwide.

Thank you!

Kelly Moore
President/CEO
Music For Mankind, Inc.